Biomimetic interfaces and crack-arresters: routes towards improved fracture performances
Nature constitutes a recurrent source of information and inspiration for the conception of new mechanical designs that optimized the structural performance in service. However, at present, the achievement of a comprehensive understanding regarding onset and propagation of cracking events in complex media with intricate geometrical definitions and the presence of weak interfaces is still a matter of major interest within the scientific community. Stemming from these arguments, this talk is concerned with two main topics that are inherently related to each other. The first part of the talk is devoted to the experimental, theoretical and numerical analysis of the use of 3D printing samples with structured interfaces for improved fracture performance in composite structures. The second part of the talk addresses the investigation of the phenomenon of arrest of an unstably-growing crack due to a curved weak interface is. The weak interface can produce the deviation of the crack path, trapping the crack at the interface, leading to stable crack growth for certain interface geometries.
Phase field methods for crack modeling in fibre long reinforced composite structures at different scales
Composite materials are abounded in nature and their internal arrangement have been a source of inspiration for the design of many engineering materials. Tone of the most prominent composite materials with strong potential in many aerospace and automotive applications is long fibre reinforced composites using inorganic polymeric-based matrix. Heterogeneity is present in most of natural and engineering systems. In this talk, a thorough discussion of the different failure mechanisms of such materials at different scales is provided. Stemming from this complex nature, robust numerical predictive methods exploiting the phase field modelling techniques are developed, which allowed the careful reproduction of such inelastic events.
Google meet: https://meet.google.com/gbd-vymi-euo